Alexander James Bryson Gilchrist was born on the 13th of November 1933.

Alexander James Bryson Gilchrist married Sheila Doreen Lightfoot. They had a daughter born in 1961 in Hennepin, Minnesota. I don’t have much more information except that Alexander James Bryson Gilchrist died on August 26, 1996 in Minnesota.

Should you be related to these people please use this contact form. I have so much history to share with you.

For the origin of the Vedette design one has to turn to the acquisition of a Napier Lion-powered Vickers Viking IV by Laurentide Air Service of Montreal in 1922. It went into service on their forestry operations in Quebec and Ontario, and Vickers in England closely followed the operations.

As a result of Laurentide’s experience, two of their employees, C.S. (Jack) Caldwell and I. (Pete) Vachon prepared a report which, although it has not survived, its substance indicated that a smaller aircraft than the Viking IV was recommended for forestry operations, and one with a particularly good take off and climb. The requirements for forestry patrol aircraft were also reviewed by a committee of the Society of Forest Engineers, especially set up for the purpose. It was composed of Capt D.N. Johnson of the Ontario Forest Service, Ellwood Wilson, Chief Forester of the Laurentide Co, and Col. Stephenson, District Forester of Manitoba. This committee agreed with the Laurentide Air Service report.

[…]

The amphibious Vedette was developed specifically to meet the requirements of Chile and six were produced for export there. The amphibious undercarriage installed was identical to that used on the Viking Mk.IV which had been made earlier by Canadian Vickers. It was a mechanically-operated manually-powered undercarriage. The first amphibious Vedette, G-CAUU, was first flown at St. Hubert Airport on October 6, 1928, by C.S. (Jack) Caldwell.

Six more amphibious Vedettes were later supplied to the RCAF, and one civil amphibian was made. It is believed that little use of Vedettes as amphibians was made in Canada and the undercarriage was usually removed.

[…]

No complete Vedette survived, although salvaged parts are preserved at various locations. The Western Canada Aviation Museum at Winnipeg, Manitoba, has a replica since 2002, while the Western Development Museum at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, is building a replica for completion in 2015.

A few Vedettes from a list that the author provided.

G-CYFS First flown November 4, 1924. Delivered to RCAF, first noted July 17, 1925, crashed at Torrance, Ontario, August 1927.

CV 31 Vedette II

Wright J-4

Archives

G-CYZM To RCAF, first noted May 17, 1927. Registered to Government of Saskatchewan as CF-SAB on June 1, 1933, withdrawn from use May 28, 1937.

CV 51 Vedette II

A.S. Lynx IVB

Collection Charlotte M.Campbell

G-CYYC To RCAF, first noted June 14, 1928, struck off May 13, 1932. Registered to Manitoba Government Air Service as CF-MAE, June 2, 1932, destroyed by engine fire at Cranberry Portage, Manitoba, July 28, 1932.